D&D General Do THIS, WotC!

[Corinnguard]

A modern day urban fantasy setting for 5E. It's the real world, but with D&D magic. To avoid the culture wars, it should probably be set decades in the past from the present.

Or the future. Imagine a D&D version of Shadowrun where the world became more like a Modern-Day version of Eberron.

We just have to make sure such a setting isn't all like the one in the movie Bright.

 

[Dire Bare]

They were apparently considering doing that in 2014, with the plan being to label the Core books as "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons"...but discovered during market research that it was a major turn off and people didn't like the idea.

The Basic/Advanced framework probably was always a terrible idea that hurt TSR.

Fans still have PTSD from BECMI and "Advanced" D&D being actually different games . . .

Using the terms "basic" and "advanced" probably wouldn't be a good idea, but a stripped down, simpler version of the game . . . without actually changing the rules . . . would be super cool.

I'd love to see a "Young Adventurer's Handbook" ("Basic" D&D) and maybe even an "OSR Handbook" (same thing, different focus).

 

[Parmandur]

Fans still have PTSD from BECMI and "Advanced" D&D being actually different games . . .

Using the terms "basic" and "advanced" probably wouldn't be a good idea, but a stripped down, simpler version of the game . . . without actually changing the rules . . . would be super cool.

I'd love to see a "Young Adventurer's Handbook" ("Basic" D&D) and maybe even an "OSR Handbook" (same thing, different focus).

It wasn't fans that turned off, as I recall: they found thst general audiences were confused and didn't like it, same as the confusion gwnerated by "Player's Handbook II" or "Dungeon Master's Guide II". The only people who like it seem to be those nostalgia already for the specifics of the early 80s.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

My favorite 5e sourcebook is Moderkainen monsters of the multiverse. I would like some other title with that style, a chapter about PC species and the rest about monsters. Why not about Kara-Tur, or the "Tablelands" (with creatures and PC species from Gamma World and Dark Sun).

I miss the PC species from the expanded psionic handbook, and the martial adepts from "Tome of Battle: Book of the nine Swords".

The incarnum soulmelds may need a redesign but the playtest and feedback is part of the fun.

 

[aco175]

I would still make Forgotten Realms (FR) books. Maybe softcovers for each region that actually dives into their differences and have supplemental adventures for each region. Slip cover boxes to store each region and collectable foil-packs for random adventures. Tie in with actual online help and resources.

 

[Desdichado]

Most of these suggestions are for WotC to bring back something old. That old stuff already exists, and can be readily adapted if desired. I don't think I've been excited by anything WotC has produced since Eberron, and I would have been excited for a Nentir Vale setting. I kind of want them to do something new.

Not that I believe that they're currently capable of making something new that I'd be excited about. But I'd still prefer them to try rather than warm up the leftovers.

 

[LordBP]

Their entire catalog of older titles available as PDFs and PODs.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

As always, always, always: Chris Perkins' Iomandra setting!

Here's a Homebrewery PDF that compiled most of the information known about the setting, including the few maps we have. (It's meant to not have a full world map.) Most of the images have been lost, but the Wayback Machine has preserved some; I've saved them to my computer just in case. As an example, various wiki entries written on the Wizards website over a decade ago are still available through the Wayback Machine.

Plus, it'd be a lovely way to show how much of an impact Mr. Perkins had on D&D, now that he's retired therefrom.

 

[Emerikol]

Fans still have PTSD from BECMI and "Advanced" D&D being actually different games . . .

Using the terms "basic" and "advanced" probably wouldn't be a good idea, but a stripped down, simpler version of the game . . . without actually changing the rules . . . would be super cool.

I'd love to see a "Young Adventurer's Handbook" ("Basic" D&D) and maybe even an "OSR Handbook" (same thing, different focus).

I would have thought the current game is basic.

 

[Rabulias]

For the life of me, I just don't understand why WotC didn't years (or decades) ago offer a simpler variant, even bringing back "Basic" vs. "Advanced," but in a more literal sense.

I suppose, maybe, they didn't want to confuse people, or compete against themselves. But I think a more "basic D&D" could potentially be very popular, and give a stronger on-ramp to the fuller game (but wouldn't have to).

I think the Starter Sets/Essentials Kit cover the basics for more casual players.